Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
August 10, 2010
Kathleen Montagano, Superintendent
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District
2700 Regional Road
North Dighton, MA 02764
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Montagano:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district in May 2010. In this Mid-cycle
Review the Department monitored selected special education criteria to determine your
district’s compliance with special education laws and regulations. The review consisted
of information gathered from one or more of the following activities: staff interviews,
review of student records, examination of documentation, and/or classroom observation.
The Department found one or more of the criteria monitored in your district to be
“Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where noncompliance
has been found, the Department has prescribed corrective action for the district. This
corrective action must be implemented as soon as possible, but in no case later than a
year from the date of this report. You will find these requirements for corrective action
included in the enclosed report, along with requirements for submitting progress reports
using the enclosed form.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that all of the required
corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in
the report. You must submit your statement of assurance to Darlene Lynch, Director,
Program Quality Assurance Services, by August 27, 2010.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have
1
questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Nancy
Hicks at (781)338-3714.
Sincerely,
Nancy Hicks, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
cc:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education
Vani Rastogi-Kelly, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Janice Terry, School Committee Chairperson
Rachel Lawrence, Local Program Review Coordinator
Martin Hanley, Collaborative Director
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: May 26, 2010
Date of this Report: August 10, 2010
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Required Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
SE 3
Special
requirements
for the
determination
of a specific
learning
disability
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
PI
Student
Records
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
In determining eligibility due to a
specific learning disability, the
required documentation for
Component 4: Observation (SLD
4) was not consistently completed
for all records. In addition, the
Specific Learning Disability,
Team Determination of Eligibility
form was not always signed by
any or all Team members
indicating whether or not the
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Train appropriate staff on the
special requirements for
determination of a specific learning
disability, including the completion
of the specific learning disability
eligibility process forms.
Develop an internal oversight and
tracking system to ensure that
Teams appropriately complete all
of the specific learning disability
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 1 of 11
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Provide an
agenda, signed
attendance
sheets
(indicating role
of staff) and
training
materials for
staff training on
the requirements
for eligibility
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
student had a specific learning
disability, or if there was a
disagreement as to the
determination, one or more Team
members did not document their
disagreement.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
eligibility process forms.
Subsequent to the training and the
implementation of the tracking
system, develop a report of the
results of an internal review of
student records regarding the
special requirements for
determination of a specific learning
disability.
*Please note when conducting
internal monitoring the district
must maintain the following
documentation and make it
available to the Department
upon request: a) List of student
names and grade levels for the
records reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, with their
role(s) and signature(s).
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 2 of 11
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
determination of
a specific
learning
disability. Also
submit the
description of
the internal
oversight and
tracking system
and identify the
person(s)
responsible for
the oversight.
Submit this
information by
November 1,
2010.
Submit a report
of the results of
an internal
review of
records of
students
suspected of
having a
specific learning
disability and
who have been
evaluated since
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
the training.
Include the
following:
 Number of
records
reviewed;
 Number of
records that
included
appropriate
documentation for the
determination of a
specific
learning
disability;
 Description
of the root
causes for any
noncompliance
found; and
 Specific
actions taken
by the district
to remedy any
noncompliance.
Submit this
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 3 of 11
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
report by April
1, 2011.
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters

Documentation
Interview
The district does not have any
educational interpreters for the
deaf and hard of hearing who are
employed or contracted with by
the district. The district has
procedures in place that indicate
that an employee acting in this
capacity would be registered with
the Massachusetts Commission for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, as
required.
Additional Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
SE 7
Transfer of
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Student
Records
The district does not always
document the age of majority
discussion at least one year
Train appropriate staff at the
high school on documenting
the age of majority discussion
Provide an agenda,
signed attendance
sheets (indicating role
PI
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 4 of 11
Criterion
parental rights
at age of
majority and
student
participation
and consent at
the age of
majority
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
prior to the student’s
eighteenth birthday under the
Additional Information
section in the IEP.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
at least one year prior to the
student’s eighteenth birthday
under the Additional
Information section in the IEP.
Develop an internal oversight
and tracking system to ensure
that the age of majority
discussion is documented in
the IEP under Additional
Information.
Subsequent to the training and
the implementation of the
tracking system, develop a
report of the results of an
internal review of student
records regarding
documentation of the age of
majority discussion at least one
year prior to the student’s
eighteenth birthday.
*Please note when
conducting internal
monitoring the district must
maintain the following
documentation and make it
available to the Department
upon request: a) List of
student names and grade
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 5 of 11
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
of staff) and training
materials for staff
training on the
requirement for
documenting the age
of majority discussion.
Also submit the
description of the
internal oversight and
tracking system and
identify the person(s)
responsible for the
oversight. Submit this
information by
November 1, 2010.
Submit a report of the
results of an internal
review of records of
Team meetings held
following the training.
Report on the records
of students who will
turn 18 years of age
within one year.
Include the following:
 Number of records
reviewed;
 Number of records
that included
appropriate
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
with their role(s) and
signature(s).
SE 22
IEP
implementation
and availability

Documentation
Interview
Each teacher and provider
described in the IEP is
informed of his or her
specific responsibilities
related to the implementation
of the student’s IEP. At the
beginning of the school year,
the special education liaison
meets with teachers and
provides a summary of their
students’ IEPs. When the
IEP is changed in the middle
of the school year, the special
education liaison again meets
with teachers who are
involved with the child’s
program to explain the
changes.
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 6 of 11
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
documentation of
the age of majority
discussion;
 Description of the
root causes for any
non-compliance
found; and
 Specific actions
taken by the district
to remedy any noncompliance.
Submit this report by
April 1, 2011.
Criterion
SE 24
Notice to
parent
regarding
proposal or
refusal to
initiate or
change the
identification,
evaluation, or
educational
placement of
the child or the
provision of
FAPE
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
PI
Student Records
The Notice of Proposed
School District Action (N1)
form issued in all schools
contains the guiding
questions on page 2 of the
form. The questions on the
N1 forms are addressed in
detail when proposing an
IEP; however, at the Dighton
Elementary School and the
Dighton Middle School the
federally required questions
on page 2 of the N1 form are
not addressed when
proposing an evaluation.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Train appropriate staff at the
Dighton Elementary School
and the Dighton Middle School
on providing all of the required
information on page 2 of the
N1 form when proposing an
evaluation.
Develop an internal oversight
and tracking system at the
Dighton Elementary School
and the Dighton Middle School
to ensure that all questions are
addressed on page 2 of the N1
form.
Subsequent to the training and
the implementation of the
tracking system, develop a
report of the results of an
internal review of student
records regarding the
appropriate completion of the
N1 form when an evaluation is
proposed at the Dighton
Elementary School and the
Dighton Middle School.
*Please note when
conducting internal
monitoring the district must
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 7 of 11
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Provide an agenda,
signed attendance
sheets (indicating role
of staff) and training
materials for staff
training on the
requirements for
completing the N1
form. Also submit the
description of the
internal oversight and
tracking system and
identify the person(s)
responsible for the
oversight. Submit this
information by
November 1, 2010.
Submit a report of the
results of an internal
review of records in
which an evaluation
was proposed and the
N1 form was
developed after the
training. Include the
following:
 Number of records
reviewed at the
Dighton Elementary
School and the
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
maintain the following
documentation and make it
available to the Department
upon request: a) List of
student names and grade
levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
with their role(s) and
signature(s).
SE 29
Communications are in
English and
primary
language of
home

Documentation
Interview
The district has procedures in
place to ensure that parents
receive information in both
English and the primary
language of the home if such
primary language is other
than English. The district
provides interpreting services
and translates documents for
limited English proficient
parents. At this time the
district does not have any
special education students
whose parents are limited
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 8 of 11
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Dighton Middle
School;
 Number of records
that included
appropriate
completion of the
N1 form;
 Description of the
root causes for any
non-compliance
found; and
 Specific actions
taken by the district
to remedy any noncompliance.
Submit this report by
April 1, 2011.
Criterion
SE 32
Parent
advisory
council for
special
education
SE 42
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Documentation
Interview

Documentation

Documentation
Programs for
young children
three and four
years of age
SE 51
Appropriate
special
education
teacher
licensure
Interview
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
English proficient and
require communications in a
language other than English.
The special education parent
advisory council (PAC) is
involved in the planning,
development and evaluation
of the district’s special
education programs.
The district has
developmentally appropriate
programs for students ages
three and four. When
appropriate, the Team allows
a child to remain in a
program designed for three
and four year old students for
the duration of the school
year in which the student
turns five years old
(including the summer
following the date of the
student’s fifth birthday).
Teachers providing direct
special education services are
appropriately licensed.
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 9 of 11
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 55
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion

Observation

Documentation
Tours of the Palmer River
School, Dighton Elementary
School, and Beckwith
Middle School indicate that
special education and related
services classrooms are not
identified by signs or other
means that stigmatize
students. Rooms are labeled
with teacher names or room
numbers only.
The district is continuously
engaged in self-evaluation
procedures, depending on the
special education
coordinators to monitor
programming needs and
staffing. The district is in the
process of implementing a
three-year plan to evaluate
the special education
programs using a survey
model. Surveys have been
provided to staff and include
thoughtful suggestions for
improvement of the delivery
of special education services.
The surveys were carefully
summarized and analyzed by
the district.
Special
education
facilities and
classrooms
SE 56
Special
education
programs and
services are
evaluated
Interview
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 10 of 11
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 18B
READS
Collaborative
Determination
of placement;
provision of
IEP to parent
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student Records
The placement for students in
the READS Collaborative
program at Beckwith Middle
School was correctly
described in students’ IEPs
as substantially separate.
Interview
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 9, 2010
Page 11 of 11
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District
M I D – CY C L E P R O G R E S S R E P O R T
Date Prepared: ____________________________________
Prepared by: __________________________________________________________________
(name and title)
Criterion: _______________________
Topic: ________________________________________________________________________
For each criterion for which you prepare a progress report, please



make a copy of this cover page,
fill in the information requested above, and
attach a complete description of the corrective action taken and any accompanying documentation.
(Description of corrective action for each criterion and any accompanying documentation should include all of the
“Progress Report Required Elements” for that criterion in the Mid-cycle Report.)
Send the whole set of completed progress reports to:
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906